I'd have to agree with 4WDtiki. The lack of an area code on the matchbook would indicate an earlier build (the majority of businesses had incorporated area codes into their phone numbers by the mid-1960s). And the building's architecture reminds me of the 1960s A & W restaurant "pilgrim hat" prototype. Vintage Roadside on flickr dates the building to 1963, which seems more likely
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintageroadside/3897615833/Has anyone checked the local phone directories for when Trader Mort's first appears?

I love this thread! I did not know a lot of the history behind Trader Morts and it has a lot more history than I had imagined. I hope I see one of those Munktiki mugs on ebay or somewhere.

This place is great! I get my Lemonhart here. I can actually take a long walk from my house and get there. They have mugs, as well as Rum and mixers that the chain liquor stores don't carry. They always have coupons in the Tiki Magazine, which they also sell. They had a write up in the last mag or the one prior. I'll read through that again too.

I talk to the owner regularly, but he isn't working too often. I'll gladly ask him the exact date info the next time I see him. Give me a week or two...

I talked to an older gent yesterday at Trader Mort's. He told me that he thought that it was first open in 1965. It is not definitive, but I will keep asking. He said that a man with the last name Mortenson had started it and that is where the name comes from. It has been through a few owners, but everyone just decided to keep the original name. Also he said that the building was originally built for Trader Mort's, and that nothing was in the building prior.

Ok, I talked to the owner today. He confirmed that the year it was opened is 1965.

His family purchased it in 1975 so they have owned it for quite some time now. I guess that is how we got confused.

Anyway, the mystery is solved! 1965 confirmed by the owner and proprietor. This is a great tiki liquor store that has catered to tikiphiles since 1965. Great place to check out when you are in the area!